The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has advised the Federal Government to merge the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, with the police for effectiveness.
Egbetokun said this at the National Dialogue on State Policing, organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja, themed Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria.
According to him, the NSCDC and the FRSC were a duplication of the police.
He said Nigeria was not ripe enough for state police urging those calling for state police to work toward merging the NCDSC and the FRSC with the police for effectiveness.
Egbetokun noted that the police were battling with inadequate training and lack of adequate manpower.
In his words, most police barracks had dilapidated due to lack of maintenance and renovation.
According to him, this has have a negative impact on the performance of the policemen.
Egbetokun also faulted calls for state police saying Nigeria was not matured enough for state police.
He added that state police would create avenues for state governor to use it to suppress the opposition in their states.
According to him, creating state police would also lead to the problem of jurisdiction, which would bring about conflicts of interest.
In his words, the state police would not be able to combat terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry, because they required enormous resources to combat.
He also said there was a need to improve the training of personnel to enable modern policing, adding that funding was necessary to also help maintain internal security.
The Police Chief spoke through Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ben Okoro.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said there was need for comprehensive and effective security framework to tackle rising security challenge in the country.
Musa, who spoke through Major General Kunle Ariyibi, said the security and safety of the country was paramount, saying it is imperative that they come together to find sustainable solutions.
According to him, it is through collaboration and a shared commitment to the common good that they can develop policies and strategies that will enhance the security infrastructure of the nation.
The Defence Chief said it was imperative to create a security framework that would be inclusive, responsive, and capable of safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all Nigerians.